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Meet the Staff & Coaches

Meet the Staff & Coaches

Candy DeSpain

Athletic Director

Being able to work in a sports environment with children has always been a dream of mine. To me sports was an outlet and I have been playing multiple sports since the age of six. In high school I started to coach kids from 2-16 years of age in multiple sports camps and clinics. I played all levels of High School Varsity and college sports and then went onto being an area manager who was responsible for running productive sports camps throughout Orange County and Los Angeles. Now I have the opportunity to work with high schoolers at YULA High School as their athletic director, Physical Education teacher, and as a coach. As many would tell you I am a strict coach who demands results but one who always believes anything they do is possible.

Tyus Tillman

Basketball Coach

I started playing when I was 14 years old. I attended Los Angeles High School played Varsity my senior year. I then attended Santa Monica Junior College. I was able to receive a basketball scholarship from Northwest Christian University in Eugene Oregon. After graduation, I had the opportunity to play in Essen Germany in the summer of 2005. After my playing days, I still wanted to be around the sport, I continued to play in Venice Beach Basketball and Drew League. But I felt my passion wasn’t being met. My passion is deep with teaching the fundamentals of basketball. I have created. I have a concept that I would like to lead a team with. I want to stress the value footwork, fundamentals, and repetition to show what hard work and dedication to the detail will do for a team. I want our drills to be our offense so the game can be second nature. We participate in drills that are in game situations and fundamentally sound and drilled. Our Defense is what we pride our self on control the game. I want to be able to educate basketball players on making the game as simple and fun as possible.

Natalie Filetti

Varsity Volleyball

This will be my first year working with the athletic department at YULA, coaching the Varsity Volleyball Team. I am very excited for the chance to coach your daughters in the sport I love. I look forward to helping them overcome the challenges they face, as well as guiding them to become the best athletes and people they can be. I have been playing volleyball for 23 years. I started in middle school, and played all the way through college where I was starting libero and team captain. In high school, I played club volleyball and was lucky enough to go to the junior Olympics, where our team won 1st in our division. I have also been an assistant coach at the college level.

This will be my first year working with the athletic department at YULA, coaching the Varsity Volleyball Team. I am very excited for the chance to coach your daughters in the sport I love. I look forward to helping them overcome the challenges they face, as well as guiding them to become the best athletes and people they can be. I have been playing volleyball for 23 years. I started in middle school, and played all the way through college where I was starting libero and team captain. In high school, I played club volleyball and was lucky enough to go to the junior Olympics, where our team won 1st in our division. I have also been an assistant coach at the college level.

Gregory Williamson

JV Volleyball Coach

This is my first season coaching at Yula and I’m very excited to help my team grow as athletes and students, as well as adolescents into adult hood. I played volleyball all through my high school career as well as club volleyball during off season. I had the wonderful opportunity to compete at multiple junior Olympics and numerous other volleyball tournaments. After high school I coached a girls club volleyball team and continued to play beach volleyball as well as recreational volleyball. I try to play at least once a week, because I truly love the sport. I have played a variety of positions, including Libero/ defensive specialist and setter.

I’m happy and proud to be a panther and looking forward to leading my girls through an awesome 2017 season, where they will learn and improve their skills, while building a personal bond with each member of the team.

Maya Gray

Soccer Coach

This will be my first year working with the athletic department at YULA, coaching the Varsity Soccer Team. I am very excited for the chance to coach your daughters in the sport I love. I look forward to helping them overcome the challenges they face, as well as guiding them to become the best athletes and people they can be. I have been playing soccerfor 17 years. I started in the local park little league (AYSO) , and played all the way through Middle school, High school, and Junior college where I was a starting Outside defender, 2 year all star conference player, and a team captain my Sophomore year.In high school, I played club Soccer and was lucky enough to go to State cup and win the whole thing with all of the teams in southern California competing.

Jeff Melnick

Varsity Tennis Coach

Jeff started playing tennis at the age of 10 and instantly loved the game so much that he decided to devote all his time and energy into developing into a competitive tennis player. Because of this unswerving dedication, he became a highly ranked player in Southern California and in the nation. He played on his high school team and received a scholarship to play tennis in college. Jeff graduated from California State University-Dominguez Hills where he received a degree in Recreation Administration. While he was happy to keep on playing, he found that he got more satisfaction out of passing along his knowledge and love of the sport to others. This decision to teach was also due in part to the influences of various coaches he’s had during his career. He has been coaching tennis for 12 years and enjoys working with all ages and levels of ability. He feels fortunate enough to be able to work with a vast number of people – from a young child to someone who is looking to compete, to someone who is just looking for a good work out, or to someone who is retired who wants to stay healthy and have an active lifestyle. All these factors have contributed to his success as a player and a coach so much that he’s been able to have a thriving business with a host of satisfied clients, many of whom have been with him for years. When Jeff is off the court, he enjoys watching basketball and football, especially the Lakers, Clippers, and the USC Trojans. He is also an avid flyer of remote controlled airplanes. He also loves trying new restaurants and traveling.

Brandi is a swimming enthusiast! I am a member of the American Swimming Coaches Association, a California Interscholastic Federation coach, and have completed coursework through the National Federation of State High School Associations. I also Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified. I have been teaching swimming lessons & lifeguarding for over 10 years, from children to triathletes and everyone in between. I have a spirited drive for swimming and love coaching all age groups. I have been swimming since I was 5, and have swam on several teams, including the USS Junior Olympic Team, with mentorship from Olympians such as Penny Heyns and Peter Williams. I have coached YMCA, Club Teams, and High School swim teams throughout my life and I believe I have a fun and efficient approach to coaching as I think that swimming with confidence is a great way to learn. My degree is in Psychology and I am organized, thorough, and respectful. My techniques have taught hundreds of people how to swim, and I'm happy to be the YULA Swim Coach!!

Dayvon Ross

Varsity Track Coach & Flag Football Coach

I am a current NFL player who strides to be the best at what I do, I have experience with running track in high school I completed in the 100 yard dash and also the 200 I also train all year around with track and field coaches because personally I believe it's the world best training. Football is my passion and I am currently a player for the Tennessee Titans. In high school I was ALL STATE and in 2013-2014 I was awarded Wide Receiver of the Year.